Making Biblical Application – Principle 3 (by Bill Gernenz)

The aim of God-centered, exegetically-sound biblical application should ultimately be what Wayne McDill identifies as “a faith response” (12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching, 187-198). While pastors discuss the many and varied purposes of preaching, “the fundamental objective of preaching remains faith.” McDill explains:

The overarching aim of preaching is to call for faith in the hearer. . . the focus of preaching must be the object of faith, the person of God. The preacher enhances faith by pointing his hearers to God, his character, his capabilities, his intentions and his record.”

Indeed, McDill’s conviction reflects the central thrust of God’s self-revelation. In the gospels, Jim Cymbala in Fresh Faith observes that throughout the gospels, Jesus is either commending people for their faith or reproving their lack of it (Matt 15:28; Mark 6:5-6; Luke 7:9). The gospel of John was explicitly written so that his readers might have faith (John 20:31). The apostles wrote to churches inquiring about their faith (1 Thess 3:5), praising God for their faith (Rom 1:8), encouraging them to continue in faith (1 Pet 1:7) and charging them to contend for the faith (Jude 3). Abraham, the father of faith, was made righteous by his faith (Rom 4:1-5, referencing Gen 15:6). Contrast that with what the author of Hebrews tells us, that the word spoken to the children of Israel did not benefit them because it was not coupled with faith (Heb 4:2). Believers are commanded to “walk by faith” (2 Cor 5:7) knowing that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6). Indeed, “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). The overwhelming testimony of Scripture indicates that preachers should aim for the building of faith in their hearers.

So, Scripture’s emphasis on faith necessitates that all preaching aim for faith. But, how does the preacher increase faith in his hearers? The simple answer is: by means of the Word of God. Paul the apostle reveals that faith comes from hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17). Consequently, if believers are going to possess a faith that overcomes the world, then preachers must preach the Word of God faithfully. It will not be moralism, therapy, or self-improvement that gives Christians victory over the sin in their lives and the trouble in their world. It will be faith (1 John 5:4).

A faith-response, however, must not be understood as a mere informational exchange resulting in the mental assent of truth and doctrine. Furthermore, to say that the goal of preaching for faith is life-change must not be confused with mere behavioral change. To aim for external conformity is too shallow a goal. The faithful preacher must target the heart, seeking internal transformation. When Paul pointed the Philippians to the obedience of Christ, it was not to shame or guilt or prod them to merely do as Christ did. Paul’s intent was not mere external conformity, but internal transformation. Paul was displaying Christ’s character, appealing to them on the basis of the salvation they had received by faith. Contemporary preachers must be challenged by Paul’s example not to be content with mere conformity of behavior but to purpose for the transformation of the heart. This transformational intention is the thrust of what Jim Shaddix calls “incarnational preaching” (The Passion-Driven Sermon).

Astutely identifying the modern distortion concerning what “relevance” involves, Shaddix attempts to rescue today’s preachers from the contemporary worship of modern application. Preaching sermons that target the external behavior while largely neglecting theology and doctrine has rendered pastors effectively powerless to produce any real change. In pursuing relevance, they have plunged into the abyss of irrelevance. Contrary to modern thinking, “life change doesn’t take place as a result of practical application. Life change takes place as individuals are transformed by biblical truth and then it is manifested in practical application” (Shaddix).

Preach for faith and the heart is changed. When the heart is changed, the life will be transformed. Yet pastors commonly resist this fundamental purpose because of the tendency to fix our gaze on more immediate, more measurable, and more personally affirming purposes. In the end, this is not a peripheral issue of methodology and preference, but it is a fundamental issue of faith. Will the preacher find fulfillment in being found faithful? Will he place his confidence in the Spirit of God and the Word of God? “Preaching for faith requires a foundation of faith in the preacher” (McDill). When all is said and done, every preacher must decide if he believer the Word of God to be truly sufficient and efficacious.

Knowing God builds faith. Faith shapes character. Character determines behavior. This pattern of genuine life-change generally takes time and is not immediately observable. Therefore, preachers must forsake the prideful desire for validation that drives them to obsess over perceivable results. If God is trustworthy and if his Word is sufficient, then pastors must determine to labor in faith, praying for spiritual re-creation resulting in authentic transformation. The temptation to manufacture morality is strong. The appeal of artificial application for the modification of behavior is attractive. But the pastor is commanded to preach the Word even when the people demand something else. It is when the preacher is tempted to something else that he himself must exercise faith in the power of God’s Word. In this exercise of faith God is pleased and only in this exercise will the preacher will be considered faithful.

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I think the principle you share is important. We must preach focusing on God and his work and calling people to faith in him for salvation and sanctification.

However, there also has to be balance here. The NT is full of specific calls to practical actions, to behavioral changes. Do this. Don’t do that anymore. Of course, these changes can only happen when we walk in faith before God.

There are preachers who take the “preach faith” principle to the point at which they never really call their hearers to any specific behavioral changes. That is, in my mind, a mistake. A preacher must give the meaning of the text, then apply it specifically and practically to his hearers’ lives. He then reminds them that the ability to obey is the work of God within them and reminds them to walk in faith and dependence.

How does that sound to you, Bill? Are we in agreement or would you state it differently?

March 15, 2013 11:03 am

Jess Alford

Many preachers are now so intelligent, they know they can deliver the Gospel better than Paul, James, Peter, John, and all the others who walked with and had faith in Jesus. There is nothing wrong with intelligence, but when we leave the scripture and the message of faith behind we have missed the mark.

May God help us preachers to get back on the right track.

Have we ever thought about why Baptisms are declining in the SBC?
Could it be that no one understands us.

I think I hear what you’re saying Dave, and believe I would agree. When I speak of preaching to build faith is it with the understanding that faith motivates (even necessitates) works. The old chair analogy comes to mind. If I have faith that a chair can hold me, I sit in it. If I refuse to sit in it, then any claim to faith is hollow.

So, I suppose, this principle is just keeping the horse before the cart. Our faith in Christ and our love for God pull us into obedience. To one degree or another, I believe that every command is rooted in the revelation of who God is and what He promises. Along those lines, our obedience is ultimately an act of faith in God’s grace to empower our victory over sin and our life-transformation. And ultimately, our obedience is a pursuit of His glory, even more so than our expected benefit.

“Trust and Obey” says the song. It’s in the Baptist Hymnal, so it is inspired! But those two concepts go hand in hand. We trust God, therefore we obey him. To say you trust God without obedience is a lie. To attempt to obey without dependent faith is folly.

It’s not how much faith we have, but the object of that faith that is important.

When they asked Jesus, “What is it to be doing the works of the Father?” Jesus answered, “…believe in the one whom the Father has sent.”

Works will follow, naturally. But that’s not our focus. Our focus ought be a constant repentance and forgiveness…to keep our feet on the ground. The Holy Spirit will inspire us, through that Word, to do as He wills.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”

Thanks.

March 15, 2013 3:47 pm

Jon

To believe in God is to trust him and to base your life on him. This is true faith. Many people can understand and believe what the Bible says. Not everyone can trust God’s promises to the end.

I have a hard time with that, as well. But He keeps going after me and bringing me home.

What a God!

March 15, 2013 4:44 pm

Jon

Yes, to persevere to the end is to be saved. To merely believe is insufficient, for we learn in James that the demons, too, believe. So it is apparently possible for people to assent cognitively. To believe without trusting. Or to say it differently, to understand without faith.

Persevering to the end does not result in salvation. We are saved by faith alone, but that faith is submissional and not merely informational. The kind of belief that the demons have is merely informational.

March 15, 2013 7:52 pm

Jon

Indeed. But those who are saved will persevere to the end. To stop short is to indicate one held informational rather than submissional faith.

March 15, 2013 7:56 pm

mike white

Like knowing about George Washington but not actually knowing him.
No one is 100% submissional. Rather does one have that life long attitude of submission. To know Jesus is to have that attitude.
And perseverance follows.
To not know Him is to be perishing still. Even if one knows about Him and has memorized the Bible.